Leadville Trail Marathon
Leadville, CO
One of the highest, hardest trail marathons in America — a true high-alpine sufferfest.
- When
- June 20, 2026
- Distances
- Marathon
- Surface
- Trail
- Course
- Out-and-back
- Elevation gain
- 6,200 ft
- Altitude
- 10,200 ft–13,185 ft
- Weather
- Cool
- Nearest airport
- EGE
- Suggested trip
- 3 nights
Weather
This is a multi-climate course — conditions differ along the route, so we show weather by point rather than a single city average.
| Point | Avg high / low | Band |
|---|
Historical averages for planning — not a forecast. Always check conditions before race week.
Route & course
Marathon
Out-and-back · Trail- Elev gain
- 6,200 ft
- Elev loss
- 6,200 ft
- High point
- 13,185 ft
- Low point
- 10,200 ft
- Turnaround at the midpoint; the second half retraces the first
- Aid stations seen twice
Travel
- Base town
- Leadville
- Nearest airport
- EGE · 75 min
- Rental car
- Recommended
- Rideshare
- Poor
- Lodging
- Limited
- Facilities
- Limited
- Trip length
- 3 nights
- Travel complexity
- 7/10
Extreme altitude is the real complexity; arrive early to acclimate. Mountain lodging fills fast.
Denver (DEN) is ~2 hrs. Sleep high for several nights before racing if you can.
Best for / avoid if
Best for
- Mountain runners who want a real challenge
- Altitude-acclimated athletes
- Those drawn to mining-town history
Avoid if
- You are not acclimated to altitude
- You want a fast or forgiving course
- You dislike afternoon mountain storms
About this race
Starting at 10,200 ft in the historic mining town of Leadville and climbing to the 13,185 ft summit of Mosquito Pass, this is one of the highest marathons in North America. Out-and-back, technical, and unforgiving — the air alone is the challenge.
Last verified June 19, 2026. Race details can change — always confirm with the official race website.